Hi,

I am having trouble getting my new system to boot.

CPU= AMD 3700+ (ada3700bnbox)
mobo= Asrock 939s56-m

When switched on the fans all spin once and then stop. There are no bleeps.

It is not the PSU. It cannot be... I have tried several. It is not the ram. I have tried many sticks.

The only thing I can think is that the mobo does not support this processor without a bios upgrade- thats what Asrock's website tells me. But I caanot upgrade the bios without the system booting up.

Could this cause the system to act as it is doing? Or is there some other possible explanation?

Thanks for any help

Double check connectors

which connectors could cause this?

I have taken it apart and put it back together many a time, but no luck.

Hmm, sometimes if the main power connector to the mb is only half on the fans will start, but no POST. If they are ok it could be
- Graphics Card incompatible or in wrong
- Serial ATA is a beast, disconnect to test if this is a problem
-Faulty mb, or problem with the CPU compatibility

Just take everything out except the processor and turn it on, if you get a system beep you are in luck.

I dont think it is a loose connector.

The problem is that I dont know whether it should boot at all if the mobo bios needs to be upgraded.
I think it should at least get to the bios. How else am I supposed to be able to update the bios?

i am seriously thinking it must be a broken mobo. but then again, how can I be sure?

Yeah, it is basically impossible to tell unless you have a spare set of everything! Try hard-resetting the bios, you never know.

The main cause of this is commonly an incorrect mounting of the CPU/heatsink fan. Remove the heatsink, clean the CPU & bottom of the heatsink with a small bit of paint thinner on a paper towel. Carefully apply fresh thermal grease and remount the heatsink. Make double-dog sure that it is sitting evenly on the board, it is easy to have it slightly off-center. Make sure the power cord is plugged into the correct socket for the heatsink fan.

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day;
Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime;
Then industry pollutes the water and kills all the fish.

Hi
check both power connectors are in place, atxpwr1 & atx12v1.
easy to miss 2nd 4 pin power connection hidden behind parallel port.
Btw the motherboard supports the 3700cpu since bios ver 1.2.

regards

Thanks everyone.

i got it sorted eventually. Thanks for your help. : )

How about telling us what it was?? :0)

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day;
Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime;
Then industry pollutes the water and kills all the fish.